Cal football notebook: Former Buffalo assistant coaches make 'business trip' back to Colorado as Bears

Cal and Colorado spent the offseason trading coaches. Less than a year later, they are getting the chance to visit old friends.

In revamping his coaching staff after his first losing season, Cal coach Jeff Tedford hired former Colorado offensive coordinator Eric Kiesau and secondary coach Ashley Ambrose. New Colorado coach Jon Embree, who replaced the fired Dan Hawkins, brought in offensive line coach Steve Marshall, who had been at Cal the previous two seasons.

So when the Bears visit the Buffaloes on Saturday at Folsom Field, there still will be some strong relationships between coaches and players on opposing sidelines.

"I'm looking forward to going back and seeing those guys and saying hello," Ambrose said. "They are some very good friends of mine. But the thing about it is, it's a business trip. Say hello, shake their hand, but when it comes down to it, we're going there to get a 'W'."

Kiesau and Ambrose became available after Hawkins was fired, although Kiesau had an offer to remain on the Buffaloes' staff. Kiesau, who was brought in as wide receivers coach/passing game coordinator, was on Tedford's staff at Cal from 2002-05 before moving to Colorado.

"I don't want to sound cold when I say this, but I'm almost disconnected from going back. I'm taking it as a business trip," Kiesau said. "To be fair to our guys, I wouldn't want any distractions. We can meet up with friends and family during the summertime or something. We have to go up there and play a game, get this win and move on."

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Since Colorado has a new coaching staff, Kiesau and Ambrose are limited in what insight they can provide in formulating a game plan. But their knowledge of the Buffaloes personnel can help.

"All of these kids I know on a personal level and an athletic level as well," Kiesau said. "I know what they do. They're going to have what they want to do scheme-wise, which is obviously very different from when I was there."

Both Kiesau and Ambrose said Colorado's players will be highly motivated for Saturday's game because of the Bears' 52-7 blowout win over Colorado last season at Memorial Stadium.

"That was the worst loss last year for those guys," Ambrose said. "They want to get back. A lot of those guys remember that. They want to try to get back at us. It's up to us to not let it happen."

Wide receiver Kaelin Clay, who recovered quickly from minor knee surgery early in training camp and was cleared to play against Fresno State, didn't dress Saturday because of an unresolved academic issue. Tedford said his status for the Colorado game is uncertain.

Fullback Will Kapp suffered a concussion Saturday and is questionable this week. If he can't go, the Bears will be down to their third-string fullback, John Tyndall. Projected starter Eric Stevens suffered a season-ending knee injury during training camp.